Fantasy baseball enthusiasts are always looking for an edge in their leagues, and one strategy that can pay off is buying low on struggling players and selling high on those who have exceeded expectations. Below, our featured experts take a closer look at some players they’re targeting for these trades. Our experts have closely monitored the latest player trends and performance metrics to identify key players you should consider buying low and selling high to maximize your roster’s potential.
By leveraging our exclusive trade analyzer and relying on advanced metrics and our comprehensive player rankings and player projections, our experts have determined which players you should be targeting in trades, and which ones you should be looking to move. So, whether you’re in need of a roster shake-up or simply looking to capitalize on a player’s hot streak, this article is here to guide you through the process.
Let’s dive into these trade recommendations, analyzing the rationale behind each move and providing you with actionable advice to help you dominate your league. And don’t forget to check out our other fantasy baseball resources to help you stay ahead of the competition all season long. Happy trading!
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Players to Buy Low and Sell High
Which one MLB player are you trying to buy low and why? Also, who are you willing to give up for him?
Jose Abreu (1B – HOU)
“Going to the Houston Astros to find my favorite buy-low player Jose Abreu. Abreu finally hit his first home run of the season in his 51st game as the huge free-agent signee for the Astros. The long ball woke up his bat with two dingers this month across 42 at-bats. In June, Abreu also elevated his batting average and slashed .262/.273/.429. Those are not eye-popping numbers, but the apparent improvement bodes well for Abreu to continue to ascend to being the run producer that the Astros and fantasy managers were hoping for with his arrival in Houston. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Michael Harris (OF – ATL)
“The window is probably closing on the opportunity to buy low on Michael Harris. But if someone in your league has rostered him for the entire season (as I have), they might see this recent surge as their opportunity to get out of the Michael Harris business. I was bullish on Harris coming into the season, even if I didn’t expect him to repeat his 2022 numbers. And so I’m still interested in a player who I think can still steal 15 bases and hit double-digit home runs the rest of the way, especially if he can work his way closer to the top of the Atlanta lineup. With the explosion in stolen bases this season, most of your league is probably chasing them. Harris only has six through 44 games, but that’s mostly due to his struggles at the plate and an injury. He’s hitting .297 in June after batting .200 in April and .167 in May, and he looks like he’s about to go on a run. But him now and ship off a sell-high arm like Jon Gray or Kodai Senga. ”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
“It’s fair to argue that Michael Harris II was probably overdrafted leading into this season, but that’s the purpose of reassessing at this point of the year. Harris missed time with an injury, yet, even with 44 games under his belt, he is still batting a dismal .206 with four home runs and six stolen basis. On the surface, those numbers would indicate that he is useless in a fantasy lineup. If we are looking to acquire some positive regression, though, then Harris is the perfect fit. The asking price shouldn’t be much higher than a high-floor, low-ceiling option — someone like Christian Walker — to offset the other fantasy manager’s risk previously taken on with Harris.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)
Hunter Greene (SP – CIN)
“Over Hunter Greene’s last five starts, he has a 4.45 ERA. However, his FIP is 3.13 xERA to go with a 2.98 XFIP. Greene also carries a staggering 14.61 K/9. The Reds are quickly becoming an energetic and exciting team and Greene can benefit from the quickly improving offense. With an ERA of 4.01 on the season, I doubt he’s “untouchable,” and I’d be happy to swap a surprisingly hot starter like Michael Wacha for Greene.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B – TOR)
“I want to see what people with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. might want in a trade. He is sitting at only nine home runs this season and has seemed a little out of sorts. Yes, he is still batting .283 with a .347 wOBA, but his slugging percentage is almost 100 points lower than his xSLG. I would try to buy based on the disappointing counting stats, and I would offer an overperforming Anthony Santander or “name” like Nolan Arenado and a smaller piece to see if I could get something worked out.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
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What one MLB player are you trying to sell high right now and why? Also, who would you try to get in return?
Gary Sanchez (C – SD)
“Selling high on Gary Sanchez is an obvious move for fantasy baseball managers. Sanchez is coming off a tough 2022 season, in which he hit only .205, although 16 home runs across 128 games with the Minnesota Twins. Since then, Sanchez has played with the Giants and the Mets but was DFA’d on May 23 and picked up by the Padres. Sanchez has been on fire since he arrived in San Diego, hitting .256 with five home runs and 12 RBI over 12 games. Sanchez has a semi-regular role in the Padres lineup, but this type of performance will not be sustainable for an extended period. Sanchez has a grueling erratic track record that should provide caution and lead to selling Sanchez at his highest value before he stops hitting and reverts to striking out a ton. ”
– Dennis Sosic (Fantasy Six Pack)
Elly De La Cruz (3B,SS – CIN)
“Fantasy baseball is supposed to be fun. For that reason, if you have Elly De La Cruz on your roster and want to hold onto him throughout the remainder of the season, you should be in a great position to have fun watching him play. If you are strictly looking at the trading market, however, then De La Cruz is a high-profile asset where his hype is inflating his value to astronomical levels. He will continue to steal bases, but don’t overlook the probability of some growing pains in an abbreviated Major League campaign. I wouldn’t move him unless someone were willing to overpay — the name of the game is to ‘sell-high’ — but I would demand a top-flight, established option like Zac Gallen or Matt Olson, depending on team need.”
– Mario Mergola (Sporfolio)
Marcus Stroman (SP – CHC)
“Marcus Stroman has been outstanding in 2023, but one has to look at his 2.14 ERA and wonder how long he can maintain this pace. His xERA sits at 3.72, and his FIP is at 3.60. Couple that with his underwhelming 7.67 K/9, and a reckoning is coming. This is the peak sell window for Stroman, and I’d love to swap in a deal for Joe Musgrove ROS.”
– Joe Pisapia (FantasyPros)
Tony Gonsolin (SP – LAD)
“If you have Tony Gonsolin on your roster, now is the time to see what you can get for him. He is 4-1 and has a sparkling 1.93 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. However, his xERA is 4.11, suggesting serious regression is on the horizon. Gonsolin is a strange case because he always seems to be in this position of wildly outperforming his stats, but his K rate in 2023 is the lowest of his career at 18.95, and his walk percentage is at 9.47. Depending on your team’s needs, someone in the Josh Jung/Hunter Brown range would be a good place to start.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Jon Gray (SP – TEX)
“The Texas Rangers are fun. And in his second season in Texas, it looks like Jon Gray is having fun, too. Through 12 starts, he’s 6-2 with a 2.32 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, and 63 strikeouts over 73 2/3 innings. His strikeouts are down despite his swinging strike rate being up, but everything else points to a career year for the veteran right-hander who struggled throughout his career with the Rockies. But (you knew there was a but coming), the expected numbers aren’t buying it, despite the low WHIP and impressive BAA (.198). His FIP, xFIP, SIERA, and xERA are all hovering around the 4.00-4.25 mark, about two runs higher than his current ERA. Most ROS projections models also have him somewhere in that range. And while the only real knocks I can see are that strikeouts are down, his BABIP has been lucky (.226), and opposing hitters are hitting his fastball well, history tells us that Gray is NOT going to remain a 2.32 ERA pitcher the rest of the way. So, even if you’re bullish on Gray, it’s time to recognize what’s in front of you and sell high for something like an injured Yordan Alvarez (if that manager is frustrated or stuck with a roster crunch) or an offensive upgrade in the range of Masata Yoshida or Thairo Estrada. ”
– Mike Maher (FantasyPros)
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